If you search for “hearing aids” on Walmart.com, you'll discover many different options to choose from. Some of these are real, FDA-registered hearing aids, but others are just “sound amplifiers,” which aren’t even medical devices. Hearing aids are able to amplify specific sounds to help people with hearing loss, while PSAPs (personal sound amplification products) make all sounds louder at the same time—it’s like having a megaphone in your ear.
With such a wide range of prices (from $18.99 plus shipping to $1,195), you’re probably wondering if Walmart sells quality devices that can effectively treat your hearing loss. The answer is “it depends”: Walmart does sell some affordable hearing aids, but also some low-quality, cheaply made products that aren’t medical-grade and that you shouldn’t waste your money on.
In this guide, we’ll identify some of the cheap products to avoid, review the most popular Walmart hearing aids, and look at some alternatives to help you choose the best hearing aid for your needs.
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Are Walmart Hearing Aids “Real” Hearing Aids?
Many of the hearing aids Walmart sells are legitimate, FDA-registered hearing aids, while others are just inexpensive sound amplifiers. (Check out our article Cheap Hearing Aids vs. Affordable Hearing Aids for more on the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs.)
Because Walmart.com offers such a mixed bag of hearing devices, it’s important to understand the difference between low-quality, cheaply-made sound amplifiers and genuine FDA-registered hearing aids when shopping on Walmart's website. Fortunately, Walmart labels their devices honestly, so the easiest way to identify a legitimate hearing aid is to see if it’s actually labeled “FDA-registered.” That label tells you that it’s a genuine, FDA-registered hearing aid, and not just a knock-off sound amplifier.
Another way to identify the product is to check the price. If it’s less than $150, you’re probably not dealing with a legitimate hearing aid. Real hearing aids contain an array of electronic elements that simply cannot be sold for such an inexpensive price.
Identifying Cheap Sound Amplifiers on Walmart.com
According to the FDA, personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) are for “consumers with normal hearing” who want to amplify noises in certain environments, such as recreational activities like birdwatching or hunting. These sound amplifiers are “not alternatives to hearing aids” and “not medical devices.” They aren’t suitable for long-term use as a hearing aid, and their product quality may be more variable than hearing aids.
Unfortunately, identifying these cheap sound amplifiers on the Walmart website isn’t so easy. As of writing, Walmart.com doesn’t have a filter to search only for FDA-registered hearing aids that are appropriate for hearing loss.
Perhaps the best rule of thumb is this: if the product is described as an “amplifier” and it costs under $150, you should probably avoid it. The only way to know for sure, however, is to do outside research or to actually click on the product and sift through its description—which can be a long, tedious process.
Here are some examples of cheap sound amplifiers that you may find on Walmart.com. None of these are actual FDA-registered hearing aids.
Walmart’s Legitimate Hearing Aids
On the other hand, Walmart.com also has actual FDA-registered hearing aids for sale. You may also be able to buy them in stores—check with your local Walmart location for more information.
Below, we’ll look at some of the most popular hearing aids on the Walmart website. Product information and pricing are up-to-date as of writing, but are subject to change—make sure to do your own research as well!
Lexie Hearing Aids
Walmart.com sells three Lexie hearing aid products: the Lexie Lumen, Lexie B1, and Lexie B2.
Lexie Lumen ($599/pair) is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid that includes features such as background noise reduction, feedback cancellation, six different hearing settings, and self-fitting Bluetooth connectivity. This hearing aid is not rechargeable, and requires replacement of disposable batteries.
Lexie B1 ($649/pair) and B2 ($799/pair) are receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids that are built in partnership with Bose. The B1 and B2 come with all the main features of the Lumen, plus directional microphones to help listeners focus on the right sounds.
The main difference between the B1 and B2 is that the B1 uses replaceable batteries (like the Lumen), while the B2 is a rechargeable hearing aid with up to 18 hours of battery life. Lexie also offers the B2 Plus ($899/pair), which includes a mobile app hearing test, streaming for phone calls from Android devices, and a new charging case.
On Walmart.com, the Lexie B2 hearing aids have an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on 590 reviews. Users generally praise the device’s sound quality, but some complain about technical issues. Reviewer “Jack” writes:
You can’t fine tune them like an audiologist would with more expensive hearing aids, but they have a bass/treble adjustment and that seems to work suitably well. You can make some adjustments in the app, but I’ve had a terrible time keeping them paired with my iPhone so my recommendation is to take care of that first thing in the morning and don’t close the app. It has 4 ‘environments’ you can choose but I find that Normal works well for all but the noisiest restaurants. I’d give them a 5 if it weren’t for the frustrating pairing issue with my phone.”
Jabra Hearing Aids
As of writing, Walmart.com offers three Jabra hearing aid products: Jabra Enhance Plus, Jabra Enhance Select 50R, and Jabra Enhance Select 500.
Jabra Enhance Plus ($799/pair) is an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid shaped like a music earbud, so it is not discreet compared to other ITE hearing aid options. The Enhance Plus is rechargeable, with up to 12 hours of battery life, and provides three different listening environments (adaptive, focus, and surround).
Jabra Enhance Select 50R ($1195/pair) is a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid, which Jabra says “works well in quieter situations, like one-on-one conversations and watching TV at home.” It is a rechargeable, Bluetooth hearing aid and offers IP68 protection against water and dust.
Jabra Enhance Select 500 ($1795/pair) is the company’s smallest and lightest receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid, which Jabra claims to provide superior sound quality. Like the Select 50R, this hearing aid is rechargeable and Bluetooth compatible. Users can also opt for a premium care plan, which includes an initial online fitting, three years of follow-up care, and a three-year warranty.
On Walmart.com, the Jabra Enhance Select 50R hearing aids have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 32 reviews. Users generally agree that the device is comfortable and discreet, but some had issues with the setup process. Reviewer “Tamorah” writes:
The hearing aids were bigger than I'd expected and the wires felt strong and durable. The hearing quality when used was ok. The static noise was very present at first. They came with a good amount of rubber replacements. The case they came in didn't secure them well while stored in it. They feel loose in the ear. When in the charger they can fall out easily.”
Sony Hearing Aids
Walmart.com has two Sony hearing aids for sale: the Sony CRE-C20 and the Sony CRE-E10.
The Sony CRE-E10 ($1298/pair) is an ITE earbud-style hearing aid like the Jabra Enhance Plus. It’s rechargeable and comes with noise reduction technology, directional microphones for better hearing, and self-fitting smartphone integration via a mobile app.
The Sony CRE-C20 ($998/pair) has a more discreet, completely-in-the-canal (CIC) design than the CRE-E10. It features similar technology, but the main difference is that the C20 does not offer audio streaming.
Walmart.com users have given the Sony CRE-E10 an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 17 reviews. Users say that the CRE-E10 works well enough, but some note problems with the sound quality and fit. Reviewer “Ira J.” writes:
Needs more base and midtone, less treble. Charge case awful—charge connector in case too small. Hard to get it centered for charging. Also, the case needs to hold aids on the correct charging position when closed. For travel, the case needs a tight click close.”
Audien Hearing Aids
On Walmart.com, Audien hearing aids are some of the most popular hearing aid products. However, you’ll need to shop carefully. The Walmart website does offer the Audien Hearing Atom One and Atom Pro 2, which are legitimate hearing aids. However, it also offers the Audien ATOM Sound Amplifier, which is a sound amplifier product not suitable for hearing loss, as we discussed above.
The Audien Hearing Atom One ($98/pair) is a budget ITE hearing aid which Audien says is “the lowest cost true OTC hearing aid ever made”. It has three different hearing modes and a claimed battery life of up to 24 hours.
The Audien Hearing Atom Pro 2 ($289/pair) is a small and lightweight rechargeable hearing aid, with advanced noise cancellation and four listening modes. Audien claims it’s a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid, but it’s quite visible in the ear. The device comes with a wireless charging case and a claimed battery life of up to 24 hours, like the Atom One.
On Walmart.com, the Audien Hearing Atom One has received 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on a total of 657 ratings. Reviewer “Dan” writes:
I was diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss and thought I would try these before spending thousands. More of an amplifier than a true hearing aid. Trying to adjust them, but I get a lot of whistling and feedback noise. Not sure if they're really going to help or not.”
MDHearing Comparison to Walmart.com
While Walmart.com offers a diverse selection of hearing aids, it’s far from the only way to buy hearing aids online. MDHearing sells high-quality, FDA-registered, affordable hearing aids that are highly competitive with the Walmart product selection.
MDHearing offers both behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid options. Our BTE hearing aids are:
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MDHearing AIR ($297/pair): A small, discreet, rechargeable hearing aid that offers all the same benefits as Walmart hearing aids, including feedback and noise reduction and four sound environment settings.
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MDHearing VOLT ($397/pair): A rechargeable hearing aid that offers additional functionality, such as advanced noise reduction, two directional microphones, and 18+ hours of battery life.
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MDHearing VOLT MAX ($597/pair): A rechargeable self-fitting hearing aid with a personalized sound experience that can be fully controlled from your smartphone.
Our ITE hearing aids include:
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MDHearing NEO ($297/pair:) An in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid that sits comfortably inside the ear. This rechargeable device offers 17+ hours of battery life, feedback cancellation, noise reduction, and volume controls for different environments.
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MDHearing NEO XS ($397/pair:) A completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid that hides completely in your ear. It’s our smallest-ever rechargeable hearing aid that offers advanced noise reduction functionality and four sound environment programs.
No matter what hearing aid you choose, the benefits of MDHearing include:
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Affordability: MDHearing products are hundreds or even thousands of dollars less expensive than equivalent alternatives on Walmart.com.
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Functionality: MDHearing products offer a rich set of features and functionality that can assist 94% of patients with hearing loss.
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FDA-Registered: MDHearing products are real hearing aids registered with the FDA and designed to treat mild to moderate hearing loss.
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Free Lifetime Support: If you ever have a problem or question about your MDHearing products, our team of U.S.-based audiologists and licensed hearing professionals is available via phone, email, text, or chat.
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Money-back Guarantee: Every hearing aid from MDHearing comes with a 45-day, risk-free trial backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
Try MDHearing Risk-Free!
It’s never been easier to try MDHearing’s affordable hearing aid products. All of our customers enjoy free shipping, a 45-day risk-free trial, and a 1-year warranty. If our hearing aids aren’t the right fit for you, you can return them for a full refund. Get started with our free online hearing test, which takes just 8 minutes and gives you immediate results, and see if MDHearing can help.
Interested in starting a risk-free trial with MDHearing?
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